Karnataka has seen one of the worst monsoons this year. Most districts
are reeling in draught situation. Rains have been especially bad in cauvery
river catchment areea like Bhagamandala, etc. This has resulted in all dams
built across cauvery and its tributaries having very little water.
And of course, Tamilnadu has pressed karnataka to release water to save
the "standing crop" in the cauvery delta region. The especially poor water
situation in Karnataka has resulted in farmers in Karnataka taking strong
exception to release of water from the various dams to Tamilnadu.

The only basis for Tamilnadu's demand for water is the Tribunals
"Interim Order". More than ten years after setting up of the tribunal,
the only outcome has been the highly contentious "Interim Award", which
has gone severely against the interest of Karnataka farmers. The people
in the Tribunal, in their infinite wisdom, stipulated a quota of water
to be released every week, irrespective of the situation in Karnataka.
That the tribunal acted grossly in favour of Tamilnadu, for reasons
known best to the illustrious people involved in the tribunal is a well
known fact.

Karnataka has been releasing more water than the yearly
total whenever the rains have been good. However, if any shortfall is
seen in the weekly quota, Tamilnadu politicians, especially Jayalalitha
raises a shrill, hysterical demand for water. Readers will remember
that she even went on hunger strike once for this.
The Tribunal was founded on the premise that once the tribunal is
founded, the concerned states (Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Kerala and
Poddicherry) can not go to courts for redressal, and the decision of
the tribunal was binding. However, this does not seem to prevent Tamilnadu
from seeking supreme court's help. And surprising thing is the supreme
court decided an arbitrary amount of water to be released on a day to
day basis. How they arrived at this figure WITHOUT studying the ground
situation in Karnataka - no one knows.

Anyway, now Karnataka is facing a contempt of court case. It is
interesting to note that Tamilnadu has taken belligerent attitude in
the whole episode. Their attitude of "you die, it is OK, let me
prosper" has become too disgusting.
The next few days decide what will happen to the contempt of court case
against Karnataka. The film actors of Tamilnadu have asked The power
grid to stop supplying power to Karnataka.
In turn several associations have said they will boycott Tamil movies
in Karnataka if power to Karnataka is disrupted.
The Karnataka bundh called by various associations was quite
successful. This has resulted in several politicians floating a
regional party for Karnataka - whch we desperately need. Only now we are
seeing a national level party really doing their best to protect
interests of farmers. However, for long term prosperity of people of
Karnataka, a regional party is needed. See how Chandrababu Naidu holds
the central government to ransom and gets everything done for
Andhra Pradesh.

The truth is that the Indian federal system is not mature and it is
possible for some states (like Tamilnadu) to get everything and sharing
nothing. I believe that if this injustice to Karnataka continues, that
federal system will be questioned.
Anyone who knows the injustice done to Karnataka over the past 100
years will gladly agree that Karnataka needs to come out of the Indian
federation. The very basic thing expected in a federal system fair
treatment of all states. The Indian government has failed to deliver
that for more than fifty years now.
We sincerely hope the Indian federation works now to solve this long
standing problem.

Tailpiece:

Tamilnadu has increased the area under cauvery irrigation to
28 lakh acres. Karnataka has been limited by all sorts of conditions and
restrictions to 6.8 lakh acres. This was filed by Karnataka govt yesterday
before the supreme court.

The Tamilnadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha has been more vicious than ever before since she wants to score political points over her arch rival Mr. Karunananidhi who agreed to the tribunal's orders when he was Chief Minister. She looted her state for several decades and now back in power to permanently ruin them. She is a very manipulative politician. Now, every Film actor in Tamil Nadu wants to prove how patriotic they are towards their state. Nothing wrong with that, but they don't understand the ramifications. We hope this time around Tamilnadu will be taught a lesson or two, so that they behave to live with their neighbours.